Graduation 2008

Homily Given by Fr. John Hagemann O.S.B. (Printable PDF copy of Homily)
Graduation Day – Mother’s Day – Pentecost Day

In this year’s senior video for the class of 2008, each senior was given an opportunity to say something. All of them express gratitude to parents and teachers and Mount Michael in general. However, one senior said something that I knew when I heard it, it was worth further development. I was struck by the first line that came out of this senior’s mouth. Here are his exact words: “Ok, Dad, I’m smart now.”

This day, graduation day, is not a celebration about how smart all of you are now, but rather, I would say, it is a celebration about your ability and your capability to “get it”!

Let me explain further. Most of you are 18 years old, perhaps some older, especially the Koreans, maybe some of you are younger. Yes, it is truly obvious that you have acquired the ability and the capability to grasp knowledge. Yes, you, indeed, can “get it”. But… I would hope you do understand that you will have to use your ability and capability to continue to grasp knowledge—you will have to continue to “get it” as you grow older.

About a month or two ago, Kevin Reidelberger’s Mom gave me a book that she thought I would appreciate. It is entitled, THREE CUPS OF TEA. One of the final chapters of this book is really what we are celebrating today. It is entitled: “The Enemy is Ignorance”. I want to thank Kevin’s Mom from the bottom of my heart. This book has confirmed something that I had forgotten that had “ gotten” years ago when I lived in Israel for 6 months. And that was: not fearing to live with Muslims and truly admiring how they stop during their day and pray, just like we monks do. This book has helped me grasp more knowledge about Islam, about Muslims, about Afghanistan, about Pakistan, about our country. This book, in short, has helped me “get it”— that the war against terrorism can only and “ultimately be won by books, not with bombs.” Education, my friends, will bring us out of darkness and ignorance. Education will allow us to “get it”.

Let me explain still further. Today is Mother’s Day. It was really something to watch and observe you seniors your last days here at Mount Michael. It was obvious that you have come very close to one another. Many of you admitted that you will miss, really miss one another. You have learned to share your lives with one another, to share cultures. And I dare say, that had you not shared your lives with one another, you would NOT be as close as you are now. You have had to learn how to roll with the punches, and many changes. In short, you have learned how to share. You have literally, “gotten it”. Today you must share your day with your parents, especially your Mom on this her day as well as your day. But I am confident, since you have acquired the ability and capability of sharing, you can do that today and hopefully, the rest of your life.

Another example of how you, the class of 2008 have demonstrated the ability and capability to “get it” is in order. Today is the feast of Pentecost, the penultimate feast of the church—actually the beginning of the church. In the gospel for today, John is very clear with two messages. The first is a line that Jesus repeats twice, “Peace, be with you”. So the first message is that of peace. The second deals with the forgiveness of sins. The Spirit will give the apostles the power to forgive sins.

I am not quite sure how well you have all gotten the message about peace. But I do think that you have learned how to live with one another and be able to get along in a peaceful way. However, I am more confident about the fact that you have gotten it in regard to the power to forgive and when you forgive how much power it gives you.

I know you have gotten this because you have gotten it through a man by the name of Manuel Hernandez. (Manuel Hernandez is a prisoner, whom the seniors have written to during this school year.) I will be always grateful to you, the class of 2008, for your openness to accept a person into your lives who needed forgiveness. Because of your acceptance of this man, you have “gotten” the essence of Jesus’ message, forgiveness of sins. Today is Pentecost Day, we celebrate having received the power to forgive sins.

And so we have come full circle, Julius, my friend. Yes, you now have the ability and capability of being smart. All of you are smart – you have gotten it. But… the greatest task is still before you.

Go out now! Go out to the whole world. Teach others people how to know forgiveness, teach other people the message of peace, teach other people how to share their lives and love other cultures. Go out and teach others to be smart and teach them how to “get it” as well as you have gotten it.

God’s blessings to you always!!!